THE Pounds 8 million netted by the Sisters of Charity from the sale of the Linden Nursing Home, on 8.75 acres in Blackrock, Co Dublin, will allow the order to complete work on its extensive complex on the Merrion Road.

The nuns also intend funding major refurbishments to St Monica's Nursing Home, Belvedere Place, Dublin 1, and to buildings next to the Mary Magdalen Centre in Donnybrook.

Some Pounds 9.6 million has already been spent over three years on developing the 18-acre Merrion Road site which, when completed, will have convalescent and nursing homes, a school, apartments and housing for the visually impaired, a central meeting and administrative block and chapel.

The Linden Nursing Home and lands had belonged to the order since the mid-18th century. At that time, for Pounds 2,000, they bought the then Linden Castle with monies donated to the recently opened St Vincent's Hospital (1846) by the wealthy Francis Coppinger. The first of its kind in the country, Linden was opened by the Sisters of Charity as a nursing/convalescent home in 1868 to cater to Ball creeds and races" but most especially needy, convalescent women. The Mullins Wing, a Grade II listed four-storey building, was added with a donation from one Michael Mullins of Fitzwilliam Square when he died in 1871. Facilities had become run down over the years and the Linden home closed 18 months ago. The entire Linden property is Zoned A, which means development on the site will have to be of a residential nature.

The Sisters of Charity have in recent years disposed of several other Dublin properties. Two years ago, amidst some controversy, they sold St Anne's National School and lands in Milltown for around Pounds 8 million.

An order spokesperson says all of this money has been ploughed back into the Merrion Road complex. Two sites at Lakelands, in Sandymount, have been handed over to Vincent de Paul, one in 1994 and a second earlier this year. A premises at 402 South Circular Road was given to Focus Ireland in 1992 and earlier this year, the order's Basin Lane Convent was also given to Focus Ireland, an organisation run by Sister Stanislaus Kennedy of the order.

In recent years too, the Sisters of Charity have provided funding to Our Lady's Hospice, Harold's Cross (Pounds 4.5 million), to Benada Abbey, Co Sligo and to St Natby's Diocesan Trust, also in Sligo.

The Caritas Convalescent Home, on four landscaped acres of the 18-acre site opposite Merrion Gates, is intended to directly replace the Linden home. Nearing completion, it is purpose built. It will have 52 short-stay beds and in the main will cater for public patients - there are only four VHI beds. The architect is Pamela Kennedy of T. P. Kennedy & Partners, Clonskeagh, and Sisk are the builders.

Sister Pius, for the Sisters of Charity, explained the home will "meet a very urgent need in providing full nursing care, physiotherapy and other treatments for patients discharged after acute surgery.

"The goal of those working at the centre is to send patients home fully recovered after a stay lasting up to two weeks and a programme of rehabilitation."

ON the remaining 14 acres at Merrion, a complex of buildings will include several five-bedroom houses, to apartments and a separate day centre/general activity building for the visually impaired. These, in part, are being funded by the Voluntary Housing Section of Dublin Corporation. Another unit, St Oliver's Nursing Home, will cater to 28 older, visually impaired people and Loyola, a two-storey building, will accommodate 15 visually impaired women.

The existing main convent building is being refurbished as a centre which will serve the entire complex. It will have a diningroom, physiotherapy and occupational therapy units, a general meeting room, administrative offices and laundry. The original convent church will also form part of this building. The remaining acreage will accommodate a school for the visually impaired and a swimming-pool.